Trust Takes Time

Trust takes time with a rescue dog. It doesn’t happen overnight.

Let me ask you a question. Do you trust everyone you meet? Would you eat something given to you by a stranger? Would you kiss someone you didn’t know just because they asked you to? Would you pee in the bath tub just because that’s where you were told to pee? If the answer to all these questions was “no”, then why would you expect your new pup to do it? Remind yourself that trust takes time and must be earned.

If you’ve adopted a rescue dog, it’s probably because you’re a fixer. You like to love the unloved, heal the sick, and protect the weak and vulnerable. You have a big heart and lots of love to give away so you’ve brought a new dog into your home. You just want to love it and have it return that love. In other words, you want to fix it. Admit it; you want to fix it, don’t you?
Trust takes time and most rescue dogs have trust issues to overcome. Time will take care of most issues and that’s something you and your new pup have plenty of. You have a lifetime to share with your new fur-baby so relax and enjoy each other. Time coupled with consistency on your part will fix most things that appear broken in your dog.

Sometimes you get lucky and know the history of your rescue. A rescue group has provided you with the sordid and heartbreaking history of the puppy mill where your dog was kept caged in deplorable conditions and produced one litter after another for the last few years. That sweet baby with the sad eyes knows nothing about kindness and love. It has never had enough to eat and has never felt the softness of grass under their feet. You understand why your rescue dog has some issues and are confident that you can fix them.

The challenges are different if your dog was rescued from an ad on craigslist.com or ebay.com. You may not know anything about where it came from or what its life has been like. Day after day you hear yourself whispering -“I wish this dog could talk.” Your pup has behaviors you just don’t understand. You convince yourself that if you just knew the history, you could fix the behavior.

Well, your recue dog can’t tell you their story in words. You’ll just have to trust your instincts. When you decided to adopt, you did so because you wanted to provide a better life for a dog that had been abused, neglected, or unwanted. Stop right there! Think about it. You’ve already accomplished your goal. Your new dog’s life is already better just being with you. It will never be abused or neglected again.

Sometimes being human just gets in the way of what happens naturally. Your rescue dog isn’t expecting you to know all about them by a specific date on the calendar. Don’t expect them to pee on a pad three days after their arrival? Don’t lose hope if they won’t kiss you or take a treat out of your hand on the second day? Get over it. Trust takes time.

Anyone who has ever adopted a rescue dog will tell you to relax. Your dog can sense your stress and frustration. They want to please you so don’t set the expectation bar so high that they can’t reach it. Give them time to see that things are different now. Some behaviors may never be fixed but remember, you’re not perfect either. We’re all broken in one way or another and trust just takes time.

Italian Greyhound Birthday Cakes

Oh, we IG owners love our iggies and a birthday or gotcha day celebration is not complete without Italian Greyhound Birthday Cakes! Here are a few our adopters and fans made or had made for their four legged family member. Have a great cake you made or had made for your iggies’ special day? We would love to see it, post it to our FB page!

Look at the likeness in the face! What a great tribute to iggy Alan!

Our adopter, Melissa, made the cake above in honor of her adopted iggy named Penelope (formerly known as hope). Didn’t she do a greyt job? We think so!

This special little iggy had his photo baked atop the cake!

The love for the breed and the extent of celebratory cakes spans the globe. This piece was created for two special Italian Greyhounds in Japan!

Mia is immortalized on her cake… until it is eaten 🙂

This is an over the top auto and iggy loving birthday cake! Wowzerz!

Kurt is one lucky pup to have such a pawsome Italian Greyhound birthday cake!

I love all these Italian Greyhound Birthday cakes! I wish their birthday’s came more than once a year 🙂

THANK YOU to Garbero Photography

THANK YOU to Garbero Photography because Gina came out to photograph our adorable adoptables at the playdate this past weekend. She did an amazing job and hopefully the new photos will help get these puppies and their mama, Cinnamon, adopted!

Adoption and Unexpected Medical Expenses

Fostering or adopting a rescue dog is a happy time for everyone. It’s a story with a happy ending, right? Well, it’s supposed to be anyway. So, what happens when the ending has a twist? What happens when unexpected medical expenses threaten the success of our adoption?

We adopted through rescue because we care about saving lives of abused, neglected, or unwanted dogs. Rescuers care too. They work tirelessly to save lives and improve the lives of those that have been abused, neglected, or abandoned. Once rescued, they assess the dogs health and social skills. Only then does the search begin for a forever home. But sometimes, a dog’s past catches up with them after they are in their new home.

As fosters or adopters, we think we know what we’re getting and sometimes we know it’s not perfect. We’re prepared for some behavioral issues. We know our new fur baby may have trust issues or bad potty habits. We almost expect them to pee on the carpet or poop in the kitchen. When they demonstrate food aggression or hand shyness, we understand that it will take time to build trust again. So what happens when the rug is pulled out from under us and we discover that our new rescue has a health condition that has the potential to bankrupt us?

Some will say we shouldn’t adopt if we can’t afford to take care of the health of our new baby. It’s not an unreasonable statement under routine circumstances. I agree that we shouldn’t adopt if we can’t afford vaccines and neutering expenses. I agree that we shouldn’t adopt if we can’t afford routine dental care or medications for seizures if we get a seizure dog. But what if we get our new rescue home and find that they have cancer or need expensive orthopedic surgery to relieve them of pain? Should we give them up because we don’t have the money? Do we euthanize them? No, we don’t. So what do we do? We ask for help.

1. First we talk to our veterinarian about payment options.

2 Next, we search the web for funding help. Some helpful resources are:

3, Finally, we make our situation known to others through social media. We give others a chance to help in the only way they can. You see, not everyone can bring a new rescue into their home but they still want to and, have the means to help. We need to ask them and let them, if we have no other options. Remember, these are unexpected medical expenses and people who care understand that.

For the sake of our fur baby, we have to set our pride aside. It isn’t about us, is it? No, it’s about the health and well being of a dog that hasn’t had it easy. Our pride can’t stand in the way of saving a life. Sure, we made the choice to adopt and the dog is our responsibility. But, we are now a member of an elite group. Animal rescuers have the biggest hearts and chances are they won’t leave us or our dog alone in our time of need.

Rescue dogs come with a built in network of people who care. They understand unexpected medical expenses and they aren’t afraid to use their network to spread the word. So before you decide to forfeit your rescue or worse, reach out. Someone out there is just waiting to help. It’s all about creating a happy ending for one more rescue.

BarkBox Giveaway – Photo Caption Contest

That’s right, we’re having a BarkBox giveaway for one lucky pup! Check out our facebook page and leave a comment on the recently posted photo. Best caption, as determined by our puptastic judges, will win 1 Free BarkBox sent straight to their door!

Iggy Leggings – Fashion Forward Italian Greyhound Clothing for Humans

Check out these IGGY leggins!!! You can literally walk around with Italian Greyhounds on your legs (even if you aren’t owned by one ). What a perfect way to show your homage to your best friend, the breed and our rescue too! Use coupon code POPROMP for and free shipping, AND they’ll donate 10% of sales using that coupon code back to our rescue group (for orders made now through end of July). Help us help the pups and be a chic fashionista at the same time!

Canine Separation Anxiety

We’ve all been through it before; the pangs of panic and tears as our parent/guardian walked away from us on our first day of kindergarten. What an awful feeling it was; the feeling that we wouldn’t really be “ok” until our family came to pick us up and take us home.

Sadly, this very same phenomenon—known as “separation anxiety”—is very common with all dogs, including Italian Greyhounds. Separation anxiety in dogs describes a condition in which a dog exhibits distress and behavior problems when separated from its handler. Common symptoms include excessive salivation, whining, barking, pacing, scratching the environment, destructive behavior (i.e. chewing up the carpet), escape attempts, and elimination[1]. Separation anxiety typically manifests within 30 minutes of departure of the handler[2].

Italian Greyhound, Bella Negron, 13, has exhibited separation anxiety her entire life. She was a puppy mill puppy, rescued by her owner, Kristina Negron, at a very young age. Bella suffers separation anxiety not only AFTER her owner leaves, but BEFORE! Bella, possessing intelligence hallmark to the IG breed, can tell when her owner is packing up things, getting changed, grabbing keys, and getting ready to go out the door. She panics, sulks, and stares Kristina down (“are you REALLY going to leave me AGAIN, MOM???) She is downright miserable until Kristina comes home.

What can be done to address and correct this troublesome behavior? Your dog must first know what is expected of him. He must learn early on that you are not going to be around 24/7, and he must accept that. There are a few ways to go about doing this.

The first way to prevent (and/or break) the problem of separation anxiety is to crate train. Train your dog in his crate for small amounts of time initially, working up to longer time periods. The dog should be made to feel at home in his crate; as though it is his “safe haven,” never as punishment. When leaving, do not address the dog and do not address him upon re-entering. Wait until the dog settles down before addressing (and releasing) him. After some time, the dog will get used to his independence.

Another behavior mod is with toys. Instead of spending every minute of his free time with you, your dog will have a few toys to entertain himself. This will teach him that when you are home with him, your attention is not dedicated to him 100% of the time. Remember, you are the “pack leader.” Your dog must listen to you and follow, not vice-versa.

The case of Bella, mentioned previously, requires a different approach, as this dog knows her owners’ routine. To remedy the situation, a different routine (one that the dog is not familiar with) must be followed. Kristina should use a different door to exit, different rooms to change in, even store her purse in a different place. It goes without saying that this dog should be crate trained as well. It is very hard to break bad habits, especially when the dog is as old as she is, but it is not impossible.

Additionally, leaving the TV and/or radio on will provide familiar company for the dogs while you are away. Dogs are used to this and can enjoy a sense of security from hearing human voices.

Airports making it easier to travel with your Italian Greyhound

Flying with your Iggy this summer to the family reunion or your timeshare at the beach has never been easier. As more and more airlines permit small non-service dogs to travel with their parents in the cabin,* parents of Italian Greyhounds are taking advantage of a 2009 provision of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which mandates all U.S. airports provide relief areas and special accommodations for service dogs. And good news—pet dogs are welcome too.

The ADA regulation has resulted in some rather elaborate potty zones. Reno-Tahoe International Airport created “Gate K-9 Bark Park,” a full-scale doggy playground entirely enclosed so that little Guido can be taken off-leash to burn some stress between flights while you relax on one of the benches. Many of the more dog friendlier airports, like San Diego’s Lambert Field and Memphis International, have allotted inside areas for dogs to relieve themselves, a welcome luxury while you and your Iggy wait out airport weather delays.

A few airports, like Salt Lake City International, permit dogs to take pit stops right outside the concourse next to the aircraft, provided you can find an airport employee willing to “escort” you and your dog, thereby bypassing the need to go back out through security. At Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Delta Air Lines was the first airline to install a designated airside relief area outside the concourse, complete with “porch potties,” grass, and a fake fire hydrant.

The increasing number of dog flyers has prompted some airports to embark (no pun intended) on dog safety training for airport employees. Boston Logan trains airport employees on dog first aid, including CPR, and the Fire and Rescue squad has two ambulances on hand just for animals in case of an emergency.

So if you’re hesitant about flying with your furry baby this summer, worry no more. Thanks to the ADA and forward-thinking airport planners, you and Zoë can join the ranks of world travelers safe and sound—and far more relaxed.

* Airlines each have their own regulations for traveling with your dog in the cabin, based on carry-on size, dog weight and, perhaps most importantly for Italian Greyhound parents, standing height. Fees can range from $50 to full fare. Check with your airline.

Chicago Puppies Need Foster Homes

Chicago puppies need foster homes, will you open your heart and home to care for a few four legged furry friends for a few weeks? If you answered yes, we would love to hear from you! http://www.romprescue.com/foster-application/

Although we are primarily an Italian Greyhound rescue group, we save and rescue dogs from all walks of life. Over the last few months we took in 5 pregnant females and had over 25 puppies come through ROMP! So 25 Chicago Puppies Need Foster Homes! Two mothers came pregnant from puppy mills, two were found very pregnant and stray and another was surrendered when she was already very pregnant.

We would love to find foster homes for the puppies currently in our care as well as the puppies we may have in the near future. Typically speaking, the puppies stay with their mother until they are weaned and after that point would be ready for a foster home. The foster home would be responsible for making sure the puppies were safe and out of harms way at all times, working with them on potty training and basic commands, and helping socialize them as they grow up. Most puppies find their forever families within a month or two of being weaned from their mother and if you so choose, you could adopt them as well – as we give our foster homes first priority in adoption. It is important to note our foster families do not pay for any of the medical needs of our rescues, we cover all the costs associated with the puppy in that capacity – the foster families just need to provide lots of love!

If you have any questions or want to help out, let us know info@ROMPRescue.com or complete an adoption application if you want to help us help the puppies http://www.romprescue.com/foster-application/

Chicago Bans Puppy mill Pets from being sold in Pet Stores

Chicago bans puppy mill pets from being sold in pet stores, it’s official, anti puppy mill ordinance 49-1 passed! This is a huge win for animal lovers all over because the conditions the puppy mill pups moms and dads endure year in and year out are deplorable. Often times, the puppies themselves are sick when they are sold to the pet shop and to the family that takes them home. The ordinance that passed today effects 16 Chicago pet stores including Pocket Puppies in Lincoln Park. From today, those 16 stores will have 1 year to cease the selling of retail pets (puppies, kittens and bunnies) and will only be able to have animals for adoption that come from rescues and shelters. For every day they violate this ordinance, they can be fined up to $1,000 or given a misdemeanor if they are a repeat offender. Chicago is not the first city to pass something like this, other cities across the US include Phoenix, San Diego, Los Angeles, and many others have similar bans too.

Although this only effects Chicago, it is a step in the right direction. Soon, we hope for the entire state and eventually the entire country to ban sales of retail pets from puppy mills. The ordinance does not ban internet sales of retail pets or sales through breeders so educating the public on how to identify a reputable breeder from a backyard breeder or puppy mill is going to be key.

We are so happy that Chicago recognizes that puppies are not “things” from which businesses derive, rather living creatures with feelings that we as humans need to make sure are properly cared for – not exploited. A huge shout out to the Puppy Mill Project as they were a driving factor in getting the ordinance passed!